Nordonia KIA

In the rising of the sun and in its going down, we remember them.
In the blowing of the wind and in the chill of winter, we remember them.
In the opening of buds and in the rebirth of spring, we remember them.
In the blueness of the sky and in the warmth of summer, we remember them.
In the rustling of leaves and in the beauty of autumn, we remember them.
In the beginning of the year and when it ends, we remember them.
When we are weary and in need of strength, we remember them.
When we are lost and sick at heart, we remember them.
When we have joys we yearn to share, we remember them.
So long as we live, they too shall live, for they are now a part of us,
as we remember them.

A Litany of Rememberance by Rabbi Sylvan Kamens and Rabbi Jack Riemer

WORLD WAR II

JUNIOR NEAL CLAUSE – KIA

A former resident of Boston Heights and graduated with the Northfield Class of 1928.  Junior was born August 17,1910.

Sgt. Clause entered the United States Army Infantry on October 14, 1943 and was sent to Europe with the 29th Infantry Division.  He was killed on October 24, 1944 in Aachen, Germany, just across the border from Belgium.  Sgt. Clause was just leaving the command post after coming off guard duty, when a German shell exploded nearby and the concussion killed him.  He was 34 years.

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KENNETH EASTWOOD – KIA

A Macedonia resident, Kenneth was born on December 29, 1914.

He was a Sergeant in the U.S. Army Infantry.  He served in Sicily and Italy with Headquarters Co., 1st Bn., 15th Infantry.  Kenneth was first wounded in Sicily and about two months later was killed in Italy on November 10th 1943.

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RODERICK GILLIS JR – KIA

A Macedonia resident, Rod was the only child of Mr. and Mrs. Roderick Gillis and left school to join the service, first in the ROTC, and later as a Sergeant in the Infantry.  He was killed in the Battle of the Bulge, which was the last German offensive of the war in 1944.  He stepped on a land-mine and was killed instantly.  Rod was only 20 years old when he died.

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JOSEPH R. KANE – KIA

Joe was a Northfield Village resident.  He only attended Northfield High School his Junior year, while working at the Village Lee Co. of Northfield.  He enlisted in the Army Air Corps in December of 1943.  Sgt. Kane was killed while flying over France as a Turret Gunner in a “Flying Fortress” on August 15, 1944, after first being reported as Missing In Action.  After arriving overseas in July of 1944 and the day before he was killed, he wrote that he had been on two missions.  Their plane was shot down and the only one killed was Kane by rifle fire.  Sgt. Kane was just 18 years old.

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DANIEL GEORGE KAPUSTA – KIA

Daniel was a Northfield Village resident and attended Northfield schools with the Class of 1943.  Danny was 17 years old when he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in May of 1943 right after graduating from high school.  He was first wounded in the leg on Peleliu Island in the Palau in September 1944, and was sent to a field hospital in New Caledonia.  He held the rating of Acting Corporal in the First Marine Division.  He was then part of the Okinawa invasion which took place on Easter Sunday, April 1, 1945.  He was killed on June 18, (June 17 – U.S. date) 1945, and was only 19 and 1/2 years old.

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DANIEL COBAUGH MARSHALL – KIA

A Sagamore Hills resident- Daniel attended University School and Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio.  He enlisted in the United States Navy in January 1942, six months before he would have graduated from Western Reserve University and won his wings as a fighter pilot in March of 1943.  He served as an instructor at the Miami Naval Air Base until July of 1944.  Dan then went aboard the aircraft carrier “Wasp” in the Pacific Theater of Operations.  While on a low flying observation attack to locate enemy fortification guns in Manila Bay, along with two other pilots, the three planes were hit.  The first plane exploded and the second nose-dived into the bay.  Dan’s plane was seen to right itself and disappeared over the trees in the distance. The first two pilots, who were given up for lost, were rescued and became prisoners.  Dan, who seemed the only one to have a chance to come out alive, was never heard from again.  Dan had attained the rank of Lieutenant in the United States Naval Air Corps.

Dan was presumed killed on November 14, 1944.  Dan was 24 years old.

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HOWARD M. RIVERS – KIA

A Northfield Center resident, he graduated from Northfield High School in 1939.  Howard was an Airman- Radioman 2nd Class, United States Navy Air Corps.  Airman Rivers was killed over Saipan while flying as a Radioman/ Navigator/ Gunner in a Torpedo Bomber, Medium Class (TBM), in 1944.  The ironic part is that Howard on an earlier mission he was declared Missing in Action, when the plane he was assigned to was shot down over Guadalcanal.  He was found in a life raft in the Pacific after missing for 30 days.  He came home on a 30-day convalescent leave and was re-assigned once again to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater and was subsequently killed.  Howard was only 23 at the time.

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CHARLES JOHN SCHOEPF JR. – KIA

Charles was a Northfield Center resident and graduated from Northfield Schools with the Class of 1941.

John was serving in the United States Army Infantry, stationed in this country, when he heard that his best friend, Don Riedel, had signed up for the Seabees and was assigned overseas.  John was determined to get overseas as well.  The Battle of the Bulge was going on at this time and Sgt. Schoepf volunteered for a mission with the 680th Field Artillery Battalion, 17th Airborne Division, which was to act as a diversion force to protect the Infantry Divisions that the Germans had surrounded.  John was told that their chance of survival was slim and only a miracle could save them, but he was willing to give his life for his country and volunteered anyway.  During that mission on March 25th, 1945, literally hundreds of men were “blown out of the sky” in those gliders.

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PAUL STEELE – KIA

Northfield Village resident who attended Northfield School with the Class of 1942.  Paul was born on August 12, 1923 and died on September 7, 1944.  Paul was a Radioman 3rd Class in the U.S. Navy.  He was killed in action aboard a Flagship when he was hit by shrapnel from an enemy bomb on Leyte, Philippine Islands on Sept. 7th, 1944.  Paul was only 21 years when he gave his life for his country.

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WILLIAM STRICKLER – KIA

Macedonia resident who attended Macedonia School, Class of 1925.  Bill was born on Feb. 12, 1907 and enlisted in the 79 Engineers.  He went overseas in April 1944, and was in the Normandy Invasion on D-Day.  He was a Platoon Sgt. and was killed just before the Battle of the Bulge on October 14, 1944.  His outfit was assigned to defend a bridge.  Except for two or three men all of the 79th were killed defending it.

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VIETNAM WAR

DAVID DANA CAMPBELL – KIA

David moved to Macedonia with his parents soon after graduating with the Class of 1969 from Mayfield High School.

David served with the United States Army.  He was sent to Vietnam and served as a sergeant with Headquarters Co., 173rd Airborne Brigade as a Medical Corpsman.  Sgt. Campbell was killed on May 10, 1971 in Thua Thien, South Vietnam while giving aid to another fallen comrade.   David was 19 years.

David’s name appears on the “Wall” in Washington D.C. Panel 03W Line 28.

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JAMES ALEC GAZDAGH – KIA

Boston Heights resident James attended Nordonia Hills Grade and High Schools through the 11th grade in 1965, when his family moved to California. where he graduated from High School in 1966.

Jim enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and was sent to Vietnam, serving as a Lance Corporal with the 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marines, when he was killed on July 8, 1967 in Quang Tri, South Vietnam.  Jim was only 19 years old.

James’ name appears on the “Wall” in Washington D.C. Panel 23E- Line 36.

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CHARLES EDWARD HANN – KIA

Northfield Center resident graduating from Nordonia High School in 1968.  Charles served in Vietnam as a Staff Sergeant with Company D, 4th Battalion, 31st Infantry, 196th Infantry Brigade.  Sgt. Hann was involved in a search and clear operation near the village of Chau Son, approximately 20 miles from Hoi An City in Quang Nam Province, where he was wounded on March 24, 1970 by enemy sniper fire.  He remained in a 91st Evacuation Hospital until April 27th when he was transferred to the 249th General Hospital, Camp Drake Japan.  His parents remained with him seven weeks until his death on June 20th 1970. Charles was 21 years old.

Charles’ name appears on the “Wall” in Washington D.C. Panel 09W- Line 79.

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WALTER JOSEPH NERAD JR. – KIA

A Macedonia resident Walter attended Nordonia Hills High School with the Class of 1962.

Corporal Walter J. Nerad Jr. served with Co. 1, 3rd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division.  He died on 30 March 1967 of wounds received from hostile rifle fire while engaged in an operation at Quang Tri, Republic of Vietnam.  He was evacuated out of the area and died later as a result of his wounds.   He was in the Marine Corps 3 years.

Walter’s name appears on the “Wall” in Washington D.C. Panel 17E-Line 74.

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ALAN PETER STRAZZANTI – KIA

Alan was a Northfield Center resident and attended Nordonia High School.  He was born on January 17, 1950.

Alan left school to join the United States Army.  He was sent to Vietnam and served as a Sergeant with Co. C, 4th Battalion, 503rd Infantry, 173rd Airborne Brigade.  He was on a combat operation when a “Booby Trap” detonated.

Alan’s name appears on the “Wall” in Washington D.C. Panel 19W Line 116.

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CHARLES THOMAS WILCOX – KIA

A Northfield Village resident Charles graduated from Nordonia High School with the Class of 1967.  He was born on October 31, 1948

Spec 4 Wilcox served in Vietnam with the 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade.  He trained with the Green Berets as a medic-paratrooper.

His records state simply, Spec 4 Wilcox was killed in Binh Dinh, South Vietnam on May 8 1971.  This was exactly two years to the day that he drafted into the service on May 8, 1969.

His name appears on the “Wall” in Washington D.C. Panel 03W Line 27.